Hamas declares a "victory" in the Gaza Strip

[webfusion]

These guys will grasp at any straws --- the IDF is giving its forces a rest after a successful incursion, where they eliminated terrorists wholesale. The IDF Chief of Staff claimed that 90 out of 100 palestinians killed over the past weekend were involved in direct combat.

Yeah, they declare a victory, but will they take the hint and stop firing rockets?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959984.html

 

[Praktik]

Yeah, they declare a victory, but will they take the hint and stop firing rockets?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959984.html

I know your question is rhetorical but let me be the first to answer it: no.

It'll take a negotiated cease-fire for that.

 

[yairhol]

Hamas declares a "victory" in the Gaza Strip

woopdeedoo. Saddam Hussein declared that the U.S. invasion to Iraq will be the "mother of all wars". So he declared.

What's amazing with the Hamas followers is that their leaders have fled to hiding like frightened mice scared for their lives. On the other hand, without a shame they send others to blow themselves up and those followers keep listening to them. If there are 70 virgins in heaven why doesn't Ismail Hania ever want to meet them? (Unless he's gay of course)
Same was with Saddam Hussein. The man that terrorized the entire middle east while being in power was found shaking in fear, sitting in the dark in a hole he dug for himself. Didn't even try to fight with his capturers and die the death he demanded of others.

What a pity for the little men and women on the streets who are led by two-faced cowards.

 

[Damien Evans]

Have Hamas hired the iraqi information minister or something?

 

[Darth Rotor]

Yeah, they declare a victory, but will they take the hint and stop firing rockets?

Of course not. They still believe they have a chance to use bloodletting as a means to an end, so they'll keep using it.

Until the disincentive for that means is so strong as to render it unpalatable, the rockets will keep flying. Likewise munitions from the IDF and IAF.

Nothing like a two bit war in a two bit patch of real estate to keep journalists in the 24/7 media employed.

DR

 

[SDC]

What happened to Baghdad Bob? He hasn't become an assistant press secretary for Cheney, has he?

 

[sackett]

...They still believe they have a chance to use bloodletting as a means to an end.... DR

Bolding mine, natch.

Here we differ: I don't think Hamas and their wannabes necessarily work toward a specific goal. I think that for them it's enough to be armed, to be the baddest gang on their turf, and, yes, to continue the bloodletting as an end in itself.

War is culturally defined; different societies view it in different ways. (That seemed like a startling idea when I first encountered it, but of course it's glaringly true.) For guys from a small -- yes, two-bit -- subculture with no history and a tribal definiton of war, victory consists of killing an enemy. Doesn't matter what went before, doesn't matter what may follow: a dead foe is a triumph for Us Good Guys.

War like that doesn't really go anywhere; it's not intended to change anything. Maybe some water-holes and camels will change hands for a while (I think I mean that both metaphorically and literally), but the aimless conflict goes on. After all, it beats working.

 

[Leicontis]

I'm surprised nobody has noted the "90 out of 100" figure - then again, the IDF has never been the most discriminating when it comes to their targets. More discriminating than their opponents here, by a truly vast distance (in that they actually distinguish between civilians and enemies at least some of the time), but still...

I am not anti-Semitic, nor do I have anything against the Israeli people. However, until the Israeli leadership actually follows through and does their part in peacemaking work with the Palestinians and their other neighbors, the Western support of Israel is going to continue to be a source of animosity from the Arab states.

 

[Sefarst]

I wish this tactic worked in boxing. The other guy could beat your face in for five rounds without you ever getting a shot in and then, when he stops for half a second to wipe the sweat off his forehead, you could claim victory.

Remind me again why Hamas is doing this and why people support it? Maybe Fatah needs to take a field trip over to Gaza and teach Hamas how to be moderately rational.

 

[webfusion]

FROM OVERNIGHT REPORTS:
An Israel Air Force missile struck a group of Palestinian militants firing rockets from the north Gaza town of Beit Hanun late Monday, killing one man, Palestinian officials said.

A second strike in the same area caused no human casualties, they said.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed both strikes, saying the first hit a rocket squad and the second struck a donkey cart loaded with rockets.

The innocent donkey is taking a well-deserved dirt-nap.


Leicontis mentions:

I'm surprised nobody has noted the "90 out of 100" figure - then again, the IDF has never been the most discriminating when it comes to their targets.

The palestinians are saying that "half" those killed are civilians. The IDF disputes that claim and indicates that those who have died were primarily combatants.

In any case, the entire situation is still quite volatile, and PA President Abbas is now announcing he's ready to "negotiate a truce" between Hamas & Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960370.html

(A tip of the hat to Praktik & Sefarst)

 

[Sunni Man]

Hamas has once again defeated the IDF

Just like Hezbollah made them eat dirt in Lebanon.

 

[Policenaut]

defeated

This must be some strange new usage of the word.

 

[geni]

These guys will grasp at any straws --- the IDF is giving its forces a rest after a successful incursion, where they eliminated terrorists wholesale. The IDF Chief of Staff claimed that 90 out of 100 palestinians killed over the past weekend were involved in direct combat.

100? Is that even a days worth of births?

Yeah, they declare a victory, but will they take the hint and stop firing rockets?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959984.html

When:

they are all dead
they find a more effective method of combat
they find a different idiology to follow

Other than that not going to happen.

 

[Sunni Man]

When:

they are all dead
they find a more effective method of combat
they find a different idiology to follow

No, when they wipe Israel off the map!!!!

 

[a_unique_person]

No, when they wipe Israel off the map!!!!

That isn't going to happen. Israel has nukes. Hammas didn't have any sort of a victory, neither did Israel. It's just more of the same.

 

[a_unique_person]

These guys will grasp at any straws --- the IDF is giving its forces a rest after a successful incursion, where they eliminated terrorists wholesale. The IDF Chief of Staff claimed that 90 out of 100 palestinians killed over the past weekend were involved in direct combat.

Yeah, they declare a victory, but will they take the hint and stop firing rockets?
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/959984.html

It's just as absurd as Israel saying the incursion was successful.

 

[yairhol]

It's just as absurd as Israel saying the incursion was successful.

I disagree very much.
These are very important accomplishments to the operation so far:

1. Hama lost more than 70 of its terrorists in three days. That's a lot even for a terrorist group who worships death.
2. The IDF operation eats at the Hamas' status among the Palestinian civilians. No matter how much the Hamas say on television that the 'people' are supporting them, telephone conversations with the civilians teach otherwise. Only to the media the Palestinians are forced to praise Hamas.
3. This operation legitimizes future operations in the international community's eyes. Further legitimacy is accomplished by the constant fighting in Gaza in that fighting is not considered hot news anymore but an on-going situation. Proof of this is seen by the fact that the international community did not force Israel out of this operation by threatening with sanctions.
4. It did a world of wonders to the Israeli citizens' morality who now see the IDF fighting against the terrorists and not just sitting on the fence and doing very little.

 

[webfusion]

No, when they wipe Israel off the map!!!!

Hmmmmmmmmm, it almost sounds like you are cheering for this to happen.
Are you?

 

[mrbaracuda]

What exactly is Gaza?

"Largest open air prison camp on earth", "concentration and/or death camp" and site of a "holocaust", or like Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said: "Gaza will always be a graveyard for the occupation forces."?

Can't remember Jews being equipped with weapons or even rockets, fighting off their Nazi guards at the death camps.

The Hamas spokesman said that the PA should release all of the group's militants held in West Bank prisons, and return their weapons to them so that they can counter Israel's aggression.

Riiight.

PA President Abbas is now announcing he's ready to "negotiate a truce" between Hamas & Israel.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/960370.html

From the article: "Hamas, which does not recognize Israel's right to exist, has previously intimated it is interested in a long-term truce[...]"

Oh yea, let's have some hudna, shall we? From Wikipedia:

According to Umdat as-Salik, a medieval summary of Shafi'i jurisprudence, hudnas with a non-Muslim enemy should be limited to 10 years: "if Muslims are weak, a truce may be made for ten years if necessary, for the Prophet made a truce with the Quraysh for that long, as is related by Abu Dawud" ('Umdat as-Salik, o9.16).

So much for the "victory", eh? Although I doubt that they'll be a able to pull off a "Muhammad", as described by Wiki, based on biographies of Muhammad / Islam:

A particularly famous early hudna was the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah between Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe, ending with Muhammad marching on Mecca along with 10000 men, two years after the hudna was signed, and taking over the Quraysh.

Too bad the modern Jews got some firepower, eh? I'm quite pleased to know this won't happen.

 

[Sunni Man]

Hmmmmmmmmm, it almost sounds like you are cheering for this to happen.
Are you?

Someday Israel will self destruct. Evil governments always do. Zionist fascism carries the seeds of it's own downfall. It's just a matter of when; not if, it will happen.

And the whole world will rejoice on that wonderful day!!!!